iPhone 7 will be similar to iPhone 6s in design: WSJ

NEW DELHI: Recently some online reports stated that Apple would be refreshing its iPhone design with the launch of the iPhone 7 this year. The speculations were supported by the logic that Apple changes the design of its smartphones every two years.

However, according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, the iPhone 7 is likely to sport the same design as that of iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6s models.

The report, which cites 'people familiar with the matter', adds that the rumoured iPhone 7 will be arriving in two variants with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s models too come in same screen sizes.

The major design change is expected to arrive in next year's iPhone model. Next year would also mark the 10th anniversary of the original iPhone. Rumours suggest the 2017 iPhone to feature an edge-to-edge OLED display along with a fingerprint sensor built over the display. The Home button is said to be completely removed, said industry sources to the journal.

It has also been revealed that one of the features such as curved screens aren't ready for this year's iPhone model. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook last month in an interview to CNBC said there is "great innovation" in the pipeline for the upcoming iPhone devices. "We are going to give you things that you can't live without that you just don't know you need today," he said.

The industry sources in the report add that Apple's head of design Jony Ive's desire has been to shrink an iPhone to a single sheet of glass. The 2017 iPhone design ideas are supposed to move the smartphones in the same direction.

Confirming previous rumours, the report also says that iPhone 7 models will be ditching the 3.5mm headphone jack completely. Users would have to settle for a lightning connector port, which will also be used to charge the device. This might not be a welcome change for users as they would either be able to listen to music or charge their handsets. Doing both simultaneously may not be possible. Nonetheless, the absence of the 3.5mm headphone jack may result in a thinner iPhone. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted the iPhone 7 will be 1mm thinner than the previous model.

A separate report by the Macotara website says that the Cupertino-based tech firm is planning to add a Navy Blue colour variant in the iPhone lineup. Some concept images have also been posted on social media websites. In addition, Apple might remove the Space Gray colour from the series as well. The firm brought Rose Gold colour variant along with the iPhone 6s.